PRINCIPAL'S UPDATE
 
January 14, 2018

 
Follow the latest Pen news on Twitter
      @PVPHS_Principal 

FINAL EXAMS THIS WEEK
Final exams for the 1st semester are this week. Students should come to school well rested and having eaten a good breakfast. There is a short break between the two finals each day for students to relax and refuel. Our fantastic teachers have prepared our students well - now it is up to the students to demonstrate all they have learned this semester.
Thank you to Link Crew members who helped Freshmen prepare for 
finals this past week during their Cookies, Cocoa and Cram event 

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. HOLIDAY

School will be closed on Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Many students will spend the day studying for their finals perhaps, but many others will be serving their community and giving to others in honor of Dr. King's legacy.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is not only for celebration and remembrance, education and tribute, but above all a day of service. All across America on the Holiday, people perform service in hospitals and shelters and prisons and wherever people need some help. It is a day of volunteering to feed the hungry, rehabilitate housing, tutoring those who can't read, mentoring at-risk youngsters, consoling the broken-hearted and a thousand other projects for building the beloved community of his dream. - Coretta Scott King

WALK FOR LIFE - LAST CALL FOR SPONSORS
Sponsors will have their logo or family name on the back of our Walk for Life shirts which will be worn by over 2,000 students and community members. A Walk for Life Sponsorship is $150. Download the WFL SPONSOR FORM  and return to school by this Friday, January 19th. Thank you so much for your generosity. Last year our Panther Family came together to raise nearly $50,000 for City of Hope and Cancer Support Community.
WINTER FORMAL IS COMING
This year's Winter Formal is at Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum, located at 6933 Hollywood Blvd. Formal is Saturday, February 3rd from 7 pm until 11 pm, and includes dinner, dancing, viewing of wax characters, interactive activities, a 4-D Marvel Movie, and even a personal wax hand souvenir.  


Tickets are on sale now. They are $90 with ASB and $100 without ASB through Wednesday, January 24th. Prices go up on Thursday, January 25th to $100 with ASB and $110 without ASB. The last day to buy tickets is Wednesday, January 31st.  Every student who attends Winter Formal must turn in a permission slip/transportation form to the Student Store at the time they purchase their ticket. 

CHEER CLINIC OPPORTUNITY FOR K-8 STUDENTS
More information and registration form is available HERE

PEF ESSAY CONTEST
The Peninsula Education Foundation will award two $1,500 scholarships to students in the graduating class of 2018 who are continuing their education at the post-secondary level. Applicants must submit an essay on the subject: "How has PEF funding enhanced students' educational experience?" with a 500 word maximum. Visit the PEF website for more information and for the link to the online application which is due by March 1.

HOST FAMILIES NEEDED
We are very excited to share that students from China will be visiting Pen High from Monday, January 22, 2018 through Friday, January 26, 2018. We will be hosting 12 male students and 2 female students, and each of them will need a host family while they are here. URGENT - We still need 3 more host families! This will be a wonderful opportunity for both students from China and our students to learn culture and language. Please contact Pen High Chinese teacher Grace Anderson at andersonc@pvpusd.net for more details.
PEN HIGH OPEN HOUSE COMING UP ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 25
REDUCING STRESS DURING FINAL EXAM  PREPARATION
Here are suggestions for students studying for their final exams:
  1. Say NO. Friends and family may ask for you to do things when you're preparing for exams. It's an easy time to say "hey, I've got some big exams coming up and need to prepare - can we talk about it after I ace them?". 
  2.  Get Organized. If your mind is cluttered with life tasks, spend 30 minutes dumping everything on paper. Your mind becomes stressed trying to juggle memories. By committing them to paper, you release that burden. 
  3. Create a Study Schedule. Once you have a general understanding of where you need to focus your studying, you can plan your study schedule. Pick blocks of time when you can avoid being disturbed, not just the night before the exam. Your brain needs to absorb information over a period of time to retain it. 
  4. Visualize Test Success
  5. Join a Study Group. Find a good group to work with, and you can help yourself learn as you teach others, and vice versa. 
  6. Exercise & Eat well - A good workout and proper diet helps your brain think more clearly. 
  7. Avoid stressful people. 
  8. Take a stress break - spend 30 minutes doing something purely for fun. 
  9. Limit Your Caffeine and Sugar. You can experience jitters or crashes, so instead, consider water and healthier alternatives.  
  10. Sleep! Yes! Your brain rewires itself during sleep, do it to solidify your learning. Study, rest, remember better.
source: captureapps.com/12-secrets-reduce-stress-final-exams

ROBOTICS COMPETITION SEASON BEGINS
Last week, PVPHS Robotics FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) Team 2637 began their 2018 Season Kick off. Each Robotics season starts off with the big game reveal. Teams all over the world have been awaiting this moment. At 7:00 AM PST, on January 6, 2018, the video animation of the game was streamed live. The animation provides the game premise, scoring, and game field configuration. What we are designing and building in the next few weeks should have all the functions shown in this video:  2018 First Robotics Competition Video . Excitement filled the Robotics Rooms (T-102 and T-103) as our team discovered what will surely occupy their hearts and minds for the next 6 weeks: First Power Up , the game their robot must excel at in order to advance to the coveted National Championships! 

Pen High's Robotics Team

Contact Associate Principal Toombs  toombsl@pvpusd.net

PSAT & PSAT 8/9 PICKUP
 
Students who took the PSAT or PSAT 8/9 last October and have not picked up their exam books and official score sheets yet, can get them from the CCC. All unclaimed materials will be destroyed after February 2.


2ND SEMESTER CLASSES
The 2nd semester begins on Monday, January 22nd. Students who need to make any changes to their spring semester schedule should see their counselor as soon as possible.

SCROC SPRING CLASSES
Start planning now to take those SCROC classes you've always wanted to explore. Deadline to sign up is Thursday, Jan. 25. Courses begin on Monday, Jan. 29. Classes are free for Pen students, and transportation is provided. Come to the Counseling Office to sign up and learn more about the class offerings.
Contact Mrs. Arico  aricoj@pvpusd.net
Visit the CCC Website

JUNIOR COLLEGE APP PRESENTATION
Pen High Juniors and their parents are invited to a presentation to learn about preparing for the college application process in the gym on Wednesday, January 31 at 6:30pm. Contact Mrs. Arico in the CCC with questions.

SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES  
Please check Naviance for Scholarship opportunities! Some great National and Local scholarships are available with applications due starting in early January. Check back regularly as new scholarship opportunities become available and are updated throughout January.


Our major fundraiser, A Black & Gold Affaire is just around the corner

You can help our athletes and our school in so many ways:

 

Thank You to our A Black & Gold Affaire Event Sponsors (as of Jan 11)!
All Star $2500 and up
Premier Bank of Palos Verdes

Varsity $1000-$2499
 Steve and MaryBeth Kane 

Junior Varsity $600-$999
 The Callanan Family 
 The Campbell Family

Frosh/Soph $300-$500 
 Mark and Kendra Panfil 
 The Rosas Family 
The Stockhausen Family 

Panther Patron $100-$299 
 The Aiyegbusi Family 
Derrick and Arminda Au
 The Britt Family 
The Suppelsa Family

 Friends 
 Jennifer Hall 

Become a sponsor today! Sponsorship forms can be found HERE on the ABC website. Thank you in advance for your support!


Panther

MAKE A DIFFERENCE - JOIN THE ATHLETIC BOOSTER CLUB TODAY
It's easy to join - visit www.pvphsabc.com
VARSITY SPORTS COMPETITIONS ON CAMPUS THIS  WEEK

Girls' Soccer
Friday @ 3pm vs. Redondo
FREE admission

Boys' Soccer
Tuesday @3pm vs Inglewood
FREE admission

Girls' Water Polo
Monday @ 11am vs Harvard Westlake
FREE admission

Girls' Basketball 
Tuesday @ 6pm vs. Inglewood
Admission is $8 for adults, $4 12U, and free with ASB

Boys' Basketball 
Tuesday @ 7:30 vs Inglewood
Admission is $8 for adults, $4 12U, and free with ASB

Remember the Titans!
 
 
BELL SCHEDULES THIS WEEK
  
Monday
No School

Tuesday
(0 Period Final)

Period 0: 7a-9a
Period 1: 9:06a-9:51a
Period 2: 9:57a-10:46a
Period 3: 10:52a-11:37a
Period 4: 11:43a-12:28p
Lunch: 12:28p-1:03p
Period 5: 1:09p-1:54p
Period 6: 2p-2:45p

Wednesday
(Final Exam Schedule)

Period 1 Final: 8a-9:58a
Break: 9:58a-10:13a
Period 2 Final: 10:18a-12:16p

Thursday
(Final Exam Schedule)

Period 3 Final: 8a-9:58a
Break: 9:58a-10:13a
Period 4 Final: 10:18a-12:16p

Friday
(Final Exam Schedule)

Period 5 Final: 8a-9:58a
Break: 9:58a-10:13a
Period 6 Final: 10:18a-12:16p






Click HERE to register


 Follow Pen High on the following official sites

                 @pvphs_principal

                 @pvphsasb

                 @pvphszoo

                 @pvphs_panthers

                 @pvphs_athletics

                 @pvphs_store

           
Have a great week and good luck on your finals!tracks 
 
 
Brent Kuykendall
Principal